The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is bringing some holiday cheer to Labor Day weekend travels by suspending most road construction activities. According to a recent announcement, the intermission on construction will run from the morning of August 30 through the evening of September 3, clearing the way for smoother commutes along interstates and U.S. routes during the busy holiday.
State officials are also taking a hard stance against impaired driving with the launch of the "Booze It & Lose It" campaign, aimed to deter and detect drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs; the crackdown involves heightened patrols by local and state law enforcement which will persist until September 8, in efforts to enhance road safety during the extended holiday period. NCDOT encourages would-be travelers to check out DriveNC.gov before hitting the road for up-to-the-minute traffic conditions.
Meanwhile, the DMV is cutting wait times with a rollout of self-serve kiosks, expanding convenience and accessibility for North Carolina residents. Six new kiosk locations have been installed in the Charlotte and Raleigh areas, following the lead of three pioneering locations unveiled earlier in the year; you can find a nearby kiosk by visiting the NCDOT website and searching for DMV kiosk through their online portal.
In recognition of its innovative use of technology, NCDOT's Harkers Island bridge project snagged an Operations Excellence award, an accolade that's part of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' America's Transportation Awards contest, replacing two bridges that were over 50 years old with a new, more resilient 3,200-foot bridge utilizing materials like glass fiber reinforced polymer and carbon fiber reinforced polymer strands designed to endure the harsh coastal environment.
